hosted by the Washington DC Department of Parks and Recreation, is the premier gathering of competitive African American swimmers in the nation. The Aquademics team participated in five Black History Invitationals. In 1999, inspired by the success of the BHI, Aquademics hosted a smaller competition, the Kwanzaa Invitational. It was held from December 17–19, 1999 at the University of Michigan Canham Natatorium, and included teams from around the region. Swimmers Make Better Learners Scholastic achievement was central to Aquademics. To fulfill its mission, three initiatives were supported: The program established an annual camp. The Aquademics Camp was at once a water sport clinic, a cultural experience and a summer school. In addition to the swimming practices and training common to all sport camps, the fundamental skills of other water sports, such as water polo, water skiing and scuba diving were introduced. Campers took field trips to several African American history and cultural institutions: the Charles Wright Museum of African American History, the Black Madonna Bookstore, and the African art collections at the Detroit Institute of Art. In 1993, campers met with several Lucy Thurman YWCA alumna, who provided a cultural history lesson about their experiences as synchronized swimmers in the 1930s and 1940s. Finally, the camp incorporated study skill and time management instruction, learning style discussions and offered tutorials in specific subjects. A college scholarship fund was launched to provide financial assistance to Aquademics members with stellar academic records during high school. Funded by former health care researcher Linda Sprankle, an advocate of programs committed to youth of color, the Sprankle Scholarship became synonymous with high academic achievement, and for Aquademics members, an honor as competitive and prestigious as getting medals in swimming. The group engaged Betty Springfield, a volunteer program director, to sustain an effective academic program. She joined the founding board to lend expertise for two ends: to strengthen the academic support and counselling programs; and to shift the program toward family-centered leadership. In 1995, Springfield increased and expanded the academic counselling staff, instituted after-practice tutorials and secured a flexible partnership with another academic group associated with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, The African American Academy. Then in 1996, the founding Board approved a plan to transfer governing authority to parents and families of Aquademics members. To the 'Swimmers Make Better Learners' motto, another watchword was embraced: "Always Remember that the Children Are in the Water." This expression